Welcome Home, little Hudson!

HUDSON!
Yup. This is the little guy that came home with us yesterday morning.
He's an 8week old mix; 1/2 Jack Russell (mom) & no idea on the other half. I think we're just going to claim that he's a terrier mix of sorts.

As you know, we've been scouting out several avenues of adoptable dogs of all ages, trying to stay away from little puppies and searching the Internet everyday. Saturday afternoon, we swung by the Marin Humane Society which is about 30 minutes north of SF, over the Golden Gate bridge. After taking a couple of dogs out into the yard and even taking one out for a walk, we didn't quite feel connected to anyone and (sad face) started to walk out of the place. The adoption counselor was walking us out and when she saw how defeated we looked she said, "Wait, have you seen the little one?" She claimed to only have shown him to "special folks" who weren't "annoying or obnoxious" and only those she thought could really love him because he was so special to their shelter! AND SHE PICKED US!! ok, ok, maybe there were others before us, but I'd like to think nobody else proved worthy.

My childhood dog's name was Pretzel (min.schnauzer)
whom I adored in all of his scruffy-barkiness. Hence the necklace.

We had already told her about our work schedule and where we lived and although other SF agencies were so against us adopting a dog (not enough time, small place), she was all over it and actually said he would be a perfect one for us. Apparently, SF agencies are reeeaally strict about adoptions so it was a pretty great coincidence that we ended up out of the city.

They let us hang out with him outside where he attempted to wrap his little mouth around a tennis ball, wiggle out between the fence, and puppy-pounce on a piece of gravel or two. SOLD! Tara, the adoption counselor, said, "He's going home, isn't he?" She stayed out with us for 1/2 an hour after the place was officially closed, told us what we needed to bring in the next day, and let us say our temporary goodbyes.

It was so hard to sleep, but we were back there before doors opened, lease in hand (evidence of animals being ok in the rented apartment), and welcomed Hudson into our arms. He's 1 of 7 in the litter and apparently every single one looked dramatically different from the other. We signed papers, gathered up his vaccination records, had his little microchip scanned, and ran off as quickly as possible to get new supplies before they could change their minds. The past day.5 have been so much fun as Hudson basically sleeps only to wake up and play vigorously and fall back asleep again!

12 hours into adopting little Hudson, he...

• met a ton of people at multiple stores and the pound pet fair,
• did really well in the car for over an hour,
• fell asleep in my purse at Target,
• acclimated to his crate and pen immediately,
• held a GREAT pee on the pad vs pee on other surfaces ratio,
• picked up "sit" and "high5",
• AND he slept through the night without whining or peeing in his closed crate.

Needless to say, we think he's just plain awesome. Here are some more pics!

Proud Jamie. He's so, so smitten with the little guy!
And is the reason our 8wk old dog knows how to sit already.

Giving some sweet, sweet lovin' to Meryd and Ali.
Notice Meryd's shiny ring on her left finger! May 17th, 2008.

On a walk today before dinner. He hasn't gotten his second round of shots; therefore, is prohibited from tromping where other dogs might've. This eliminates sidewalks and basically all surfaces in this dog-friendly town.

@ dinner down the street from home. We live behind the Bank of America building in the background.

G'night for now!